Santorini Shore Excursion: Red Beach & Akrotiri Tour with Guide

Five stops across Santorini's volcanic landscape, guided by someone who grew up here.

A half-day or full-day sightseeing tour of Santorini with a local Greek guide who knows the island intimately, covering Red Beach, Oia, Akrotiri, Perissa Beach, the Monastery of Profitis Ilias and other villages. The tour includes hotel or port pickup, private air-conditioned transport, and a guide fluent in English. You choose between a 3-hour, 4-hour or 5-hour option depending on how many stops suit your schedule.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Oia30m · entry included
2. Akrotiri40m
3. Perissa Beach1h · entry included
4. Monastery of Profitis Ilias30m · entry included
5. Red Beach20m · entry included

Santorini sightseeing and cultural tour

• Visit the lighthouse at sunset
• Explore Venetian castle in Oia
• Tour the Akrotiri archaeological site
• View caldera from Imerovigli village
• Relax at Perissa Beach
• Walk through Oia village
• Visit Monastery of Profitis Ilias
• See Red Beach in Akrotiri
• Discover Megalochori village

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel, port or airport, then moves through Santorini's most recognizable spots and the quieter ones locals actually know. Red Beach, on the southern coast near Akrotiri, is probably unique in the world for its dominant red color and the dark volcanic sand beneath it. Akrotiri itself sits on what archaeologists call the Greek Pompeii: a Bronze Age settlement buried in volcanic ash that tells the story of life before the eruption. The Monastery of Profitis Ilias stands at the island's highest point and is one of the oldest, with views across the caldera that justify the climb.

Oia gets its own time because the village itself is the draw: narrow streets, blue-domed churches, luxury hotels built into the cliffs, and the famous sunset light that floods the Venetian castle ruins. Perissa Beach lies at the base of Mesa Vouno Mountain, where black lava sand meets dark blue water. Between the named stops, the guide points out Imerovigli for its caldera views and Megalochori, a 17th-century village with historical mansions and old wine cellars. The whole route unfolds in a luxury air-conditioned Mercedes minivan with bottled water on board.

A local guide who grew up on Santorini means you hear real stories about how people live here, not just the history tourists usually get. The guide speaks English fluently and knows which spots fill up when, so timing works in your favor. The 3-hour, 4-hour and 5-hour options let you pick how many stops fit your ship schedule or your day: shorter tours skip some villages or beaches, while the full 5 hours covers the whole route.

What’s included

• Hotel, port or airport pickup and drop-off.
• private air-conditioned Mercedes minivan transport.
• expert local guide fluent in English.
• bottled water throughout the tour.

Options for this experience

3 options

Santorini Local Tour, 3 hoursGuide in English · 13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:00Lasts 3 hours, includes pickup

A five-hour local tour of SantoriniGuide in English · 9 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 16:00Lasts 5 hours, in a Mercedes Vito minivan, pickup is included

Santorini Local Tour, 4 hoursGuide in English · 11 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 17:00Lasts 4 hours, includes pickup

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day13 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 18:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (70 to 90 years) · Youth (14 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 13 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Mr Santorini

Is this one for you?Choose the 5-hour option if you want all five stops and the villages in between. Pick the 3-hour tour if your ship departure or schedule leaves only a morning or afternoon. The local guide's knowledge of timing means the route avoids crowds at Oia and other popular spots, so you see them at their best rather than shoulder-to-shoulder with other tours.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (14 to 17 years); Child (4 to 13 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What is Red Beach actually like when I get there?

Red Beach is a stretch of sand and pebbles where the volcanic rock itself is red, making the whole shoreline a rare color you won't see elsewhere. The dark volcanic sand and clear dark blue water create a striking contrast, and it sits in a quiet cove near the Akrotiri archaeological site.

Can I get off the van and walk around at each stop, or is it just a drive-by tour?

The tour includes stops at the main attractions where you get out and spend time. At Akrotiri you see the excavated Bronze Age settlement, at Oia you walk the village streets and see the castle ruins, and at the beaches and monastery you have time to explore on foot.

What's the difference between the 3-hour, 4-hour and 5-hour options?

The 3-hour tour covers the main highlights. The 4-hour and 5-hour versions add villages like Megalochori and Imerovigli, and give more time at each stop. Your ship departure time or how much of the island you want to see determines which fits best.

Is the Akrotiri archaeological site entrance fee included?

The tour price covers transport and the guide. Akrotiri's excavation ticket costs 20 euros per person and is paid separately at the site.

Does the guide speak English the whole time?

Yes, the guide is fluent in English and grew up on Santorini, so they know the island's history, culture and current life firsthand.

What happens if my ship arrives late or I need to get back by a certain time?

Pickup and drop-off are arranged around your schedule. Let the operator know your ship time or hotel checkout when you book, and the route and pacing adjust to get you back on time.